Crisis and Creativity: Colorado's Special Education Crossroads 114 Colorado school districts share their insights into special education support and funding

A new collaborative report from the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) and ThoughtExchange reveals a system under critical strain. Featuring insights from 114 Colorado school districts, this report uncovers the stark reality of chronic underfunding, a severe staffing crisis, and the rising tide of student needs.

The data is clear: our schools are being asked to do more with less, and the consequences impact our most vulnerable students and dedicated educators. It's time to understand the full scope of the challenge.

What you'll learn:

Colorado schools are facing severe SpEd staffing shortages: In rural districts, 100% of survey respondents reported unfilled school psychologist positions, 86.5% had unfilled special education teacher positions, and 83.3% had unfilled paraprofessional positions.

Educators are dealing with rising behavioral complexity: A majority of respondents—67%—report their districts had to open new, separate classrooms in the last four years just to accommodate students with violent behaviors.

Districts are navigating a lack of external placements: A scarcity of available residential or day-treatment facilities forces districts to manage students with the most intensive needs internally, especially in rural areas.

Why Employee Voice is critical to organizational success—and how AI is changing how we listen.

HR professionals understand the importance of Voice of the Employee (VoE) to culture, retention, recruitment, and the bottom line. But in 2024, engagement efforts are worsening in many employees’ eyes.

→ 75% of staff don't feel heard on critical issues
→ Only 8% of employees strongly agree that their organization acts on their feedback
→ 86% of workers say trust and transparency with leadership is paramount

The state of engagement is dire, but leaders no longer have to rely on their traditional methods of capturing VoE. AI engagement is making it easier than ever before to listen to employees and act on their feedback.

In this guide, HR professionals will learn what employees want from engagement initiatives, how AI technologies are transforming the way we gather and analyze VoE data, and what responsible AI integration looks like.

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This report, a collaboration between the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) and ThoughtExchange, reveals that Colorado's special education system is under critical strain, caught between escalating student needs and chronic underfunding. While educators demonstrate remarkable creativity and dedication, they are operating within a system struggling to meet its obligations to its most vulnerable students.

The core of the crisis lies in a widening gap between resources and requirements. The state’s special education student population has grown significantly, while per-pupil spending remains below the national average. This financial pressure has led directly to a staffing crisis that disproportionately affects rural areas and a learning environment struggling to adapt.

Key data findings from the report include:

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